Blasting machine loader



May 29, 1962 H. F. scHULTE BLASTING MACHINE LOADER 7 Shee Filed Jan. 29, 1960 NNJH., NI

May 29, 1962 H. F. SCHULTE 3,036,413

BLASTING MACHINE LOADER Filed Jan. 29, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 29, l1962 H. F. scHuLTE BLASTING MACHINE LOADER Filed Jan. 29, 1960 .SYS

'7 Sheets-Sheet 3 May.29, 1962v H. F. scHuLTE BLASTING MACHINE LOADER '7 Shee ts-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 2 9, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 29, 1962 H. F. scHULTE BLASTING MACHINE LOADER Filed gan. 29, 1960 iin May 29, 1962 H. F. scHULTE BLASTING MACHINE LOADER 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 29, 1960 May 29, 1962 H. F. scHuLTE 3,035,413

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This invention relates to workpiece loading apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for loading gangs of relatively long workpieces such as lengths of steel bar stock, pipe, or other structural shapes, or the like, from stock piles thereof into workpiece surface blasting machine cabinets.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a mechanically simple yet large size apparatus for transferring with improved facility and sureness of handling successive batches of relatively long workpieces from a supply source in spaced group arrangements, to a transfer car device which then shuttles successive groups of workpieces into a. centrifugal blast machine for surface treatments thereof.

Another object is to provide an improved apparatus as aforesaid which is structurally rugged and employs only mechanically simple moving parts, thereby requiring minimum maintenance.

Another object is to provide an improved apparatus as aforesaid which is readily adjustable to accommodate workpieces of different diameters, and to place the workpieces upon the transfer car portion of the Iapparatus in various spaced relationships, so that regardless of the workpiece sizes when they are subjected to the opera-tion of the centrifugal blast machine the blast media will effectively reach all surfaces of the workpieces.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the specification hereinafter.

One exemplary form of the machine of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGS. la, flb, lc and ld comprise, compositely, a plan view illustration of the machine of the invention;

FIGS. 2a `and 2b comprise, compositely, a side elevational view of the machine of FIGS. ltr-ld, inclusive;

FIG. 3 is a vertical `sectional view taken along line III- III of FIGS. la and lc, as indicated by the sectional line IlI-III thereon;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along line IV*IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 2a supplemented by a fragmentary illustration of a centrifugal blast machine into which the workpieces are being fed by means of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 6 is -a sectional view taken along line Vl-VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged scale view of a detail of FIG. 3 showing the stock piece spacing mechanism thereof adjusted to provide a modified loading effect; and

FIG. 8 is a reduced scale schematic illustration of the workpiece transfer car portion of the device and its attitude stabilization mechanism.

As illustrated herein, the apparatus of the present invention is arranged to transfer successive batches or gangs of steel bar, pipe, or other stock pieces such as are individually ldesignated 10, from any suitable gravity-unloading device into the casing of the centrifugal blast machine as indicated generally at 12 (FIG. 5). The supply receiving portion of the apparatus includes a plurality of loading tables designated generally at 14, each of which comprises a pair of sills 16-16 joined at their outer ends by means of end plates 18. The sills are hinged at their inner ends las indicated at 19 (FIGS. la, lb, 3) to vertical brackets 20 carried by a stationary base frame portion of the machine which is in turn supported on legs assent Patented May 29, 1962 22. Load table support pedestals 24 (FIGS. lc, ld, 2a, 2b, 3) are provided with vertical extension arms 26 and positioning pins 28 for holding the outer ends of the sills d6 to different vertically adjusted positions. Hence the load tables 14 may be adjustably inclined as shown in FIG. 3, such as may be -required in any case to cause the workpieces 10 to roll by gravity toward the right as viewed in FIG. 3, toward the workpiece engaging mechanism which will be described hereinafter.

The workpiece gathering portion of the apparatus comprises a plurality of parallel spaced endless conveyor chains 30; alternate links of which carry short sections of metal pipe or rod stock as indicated at 31 (FIG. 3) thereby providing separate cradle-like supports for the workpieces 10. Star wheels as indicated `at 32 are mounted on a drive shaft 33 and are so shaped that their teeth portions extend upwardly through the machine frame and in between adjacent stock pieces as they approach the feeding station of the apparatus. As shown in the drawing herewith the `star wheels 32 `are provided in pairs on a common drive shaft, and although each star wheel may have any desired number of points, in the drawing herewith each wheel is formed with four points. Thus, if the paired wheels are keyed to the shaft in mutual alignments each star wheel device will in effect have four points as shown for example-in FIG. 3. By this arrangement each revolution of a star wheel unit will load four pieces onto the chain 30 in the spaced relation as shown in FIG. 3. If, however, it is desired to handle smaller diameter workpieces and to rack them on the conveying table in closer relation, the star wheels of each pair may lbe relatively reloacted as shown for example in FIG. 7 and the conveyor chains and combs appropriately modied. Thus, each star wheel unit will now provide spacings about its periphery to accommodate eight workpieces of smaller diameters. Or, in lieu of a paired star wheel arrangement as shown, any number of wheels may be teamed together at each station to provide any preferred spacing arrangement.

The star wheel drive shaft 33 is driven as indicated at 34 (FIGS. 2a, la) by a suitable motor and reduction gear `system illustrated generally at 35 (FIG. la.) Thus it will be appreciated that as the workpieces roll toward the feed inlet portion of the apparatus they will be successively picked up by the star wheels 3'2 and delivered in spaced relation as shown in FIG. 3 to the feed chains 30 which then operate to move the workpieces further to the right as viewed in FIG. 3. The chains 30` run on sprockets 36--36 which are of course power driven such as by being keyed to the drive shaft 33.

The mechanism includes means for vertically lifting a gang or group of workpieces of any desired predetermined number from the gathering chain mechanism, and shuttling each lifted group of workpieces into the associated blast machine. As shown herein, the lift and shuttie device comprisesa car which includes a generally rectangular frame portion 40 mounted on wheels 4Z. The car wheels 42 run on rails 44, and frame 40 supports longitudinally extending channel members 46--46 from which vertically extend brackets 47 supporting bearings 48. N Crank shafts 49 are mounted in the bearings'48-48 and are arranged to be oscillated by means of crank arms 50 (FIG. 4) extending into pivotal connection with a connecting link 52 which is driven by a compressed air or hydraulic piston-cylinder unit 54 to reciprocate in response to control thereof as will be explained hereinafter.

The arms 50 mounted combs '56 which are in the' form of metal plates having serrated top edges dimensioned so as to pick up and intertit between the |bars 10 previously referred to and upon reciprocation of the drive shaft 49 to lift the group of bars vertically as shownin FIG. 3 to a level above and free of the transverse conveyor chains 30. Thus, the car 40 is now free to be driven laterally as to the broken line position thereof shown in FIG. 3 so as to bring the load of lifted bars lll into a position clear of the transverse conveyor chains 30; Reverse operation of the piston-cylinder unit 54 thereupon lowers the bars onto a series of parallel support rollers 60; the 'rollers 60 being of serrated surface form so as to maintain the bar stock piece in spaced relation. The rollers 60 are mounted on shafts 62, which are arranged to be power driven as indicated at 64.

The car 40 may be shuttled between pickup and delivery positions by any suitable means, such as for example by means of a piston-cylinder unit as indicated at 65 (FIG. 3). To facilitate smooth running of the shuttle car 40, and to prevent it from twisting or cooking relative to the trackway, a dual chain unit as indicated at 66-67 (FIGS. 1a, 1b, 8) are provided to run around sprockets 68 carn'ed on opposite ends of the car 40. The chains dead end as indicated at 70 upon the stationary frame structure. Thus, any motion of either end of the car will be precisely synchronized with a corresponding motion of the opposite end of lthe car; and therefore, in spite of the substantial extent of the car structure it will at -all times be prevented from twisting on its tracks.

Thus, it will be appreciated that upon lowering of the gang of workpieces onto the rollers 60, the stock pieces will now be in position to be conveyed lengthwise into the iblast machine casing, for the finishing processing thereon previously referred to. Control of power applications to the transverse feed chains 30 and to the -transfer comb operating mechanism, and to the rollers 60, may of course be arranged for in any preferred manner. For example, these mechanisms may be separately powered and manually controlled; or in the alternative they may be automatically controlled and synchronized so as to substantially automate the entire apparatus. As shown in lFIGS. 2a, 5, 6, an arrangement is preferably provided adjacent the inlet opening of the blast machine casing so as to firmly hold the infeeding stock bars in proper positions as they are transferred from the apparatus of the invention into the blast machine cabinet. A suitable hold down arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. la, 2a, 5, 6, wherein the device is shown as being carried upon a base frame comprising vertical legs 70, longitudinal sillsV 72, transverse sills 74, 76, and vertical posts 78 carrying top pieces 79 to complete the frame structure.

The bar stock hold down mechanism is of caterpillar belt form and includes a pair of endless chains 80-80 having resilient cross flights as indicated at 82 mounted thereon. The sprockets 84-84 carrying the chains 80-80 are journaled upon a suitable frame support 86 which in turn is supported by means of parallel linkages 8S-88 journaled on the frame 89-89 (-FIGS. 5, 6). A pistoncylinder unit 90 acting through a lever arm 92 controls the xvertical position of the hold down device relative to the elevation of the workpiece support rollers 60 therebelow; and thus it will be understood that the hold hold down device may be readily adjusted to different sized workpieces and to apply any preferred degree of restraint thereagainst so as to insure that the latter will feed properly into the restricted inlet opening of the blast machine casing, as indicated at 94 (FIG. 5). l

It will of course be appreciated that whereas only one form of the invention has been described in detail herein, other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for feeding to a workpiece blasting cabinet successive batches of relatively long workpieces in parallel spaced relation disposition, said machine comprising essentially a workpiece loading table portion adapted to receive workpieces disposed in parallel stacked relation and having a'n inclined delivery apron adapted to gravity-discharge therefrom successions of parallel dis' posed workpieces, a workpiece gathering mechanism comprising essentially a plurality of spaced parallel running continuous chain conveyors having their workpiece supporting strands running away from the delivery side of said delivery apron, said conveyor chains having flights thereupon adapted to cradle successive workpieces in predetermined spaced parallel relation, power drive means controllable to drive said chains in unison, star wheel means disposed -at the workpiece delivery side of said apron and driven in synchronisrn with said chains to control feeding of workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation from said loading table to said conveyor chains, a shuttle car comprising essentially a frame elongate in the direction of said 'workpieces and supported at intervals lengthwise thereof by wheel and track means running transversely thereof whereby said car may alternatively run under and out from under said gathering mechanism, a support mounting rows of rollers aligned in groups longitudinally and transversely of said machine and adapted to support in said parallel spaced relation groups of workpieces when disposed longitudinally thereon, load pickup means carried by said car and comprising essentially a plurality of racks extending transversely of said car at intervals therealong, said racks having spacers thereon adapted to receive and support workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation, said racks being supported relative to said car frame by arm means swingahle to dispose said racks in positions alternatively under and above the level of said rollers so as to be adapted to move into position under a batch of workpieces supported by said gathering mechanism and then to move from thence upwardly so as to pick up said batch of workpieces to an elevated position clear of said conveyor chains whereupon said car may 1be moved laterally into a position clear of said gathering mechanism whereupon said racks may bemoved downwardly to lower said workpieces onto said rollers, power means controllable to alternatively shift said shuttle car between pickup and loading positions on said wheel-track means, power means controllable to alternatively raise and lower said pickup racks, and power means controllable to drive at least some of said rollers to feed the workpieces from said rollers into an adjacently disposed blasting machine cabinet, anda workpiece hold` down mechanism disposed at the intake portal of said cabinet, said hold-down mechanism comprising vertical support rollers and a press-down means of resilient caterpillar belt form.

2. A machine for feeding to a workpiece blasting cabinet successive batches of relatively long workpieces in parallel spaced relation disposition, said machine com prising essentially a workpiece loading table portion adapted to receive in feeding relation thereto successive workpieces disposed in parallel stacked relation and being, adapted to `discharge therefrom successions of parallel disposed workpieces, a workpiece gathering mechanism comprising essentially conveyor means running away fromv the delivery side of said loading table, said conveyor having llights thereon adapted to cradle successive workpieces in predetermined spaced parallel relation, power drive means controllable to drive said conveyor, meansY disposed adjacent 4the workpiece intake side of said gath ering mechanism and operable in synchronism therewith to control feeding of Iworkpieces in said predetermined spaced relation from said feeding table to said conveyor means, a shuttle car comprising essentially a frame supported at intervals lengthwise of the workpieces by wheel and track means running transversely hereof, a support mounting rollers aligned in groups longitudinally and transversely of said machine and adapted to support in parallel spaced relation groups of `workpieces disposed longitudinally thereof, load pickup means carried by said car and comprising essentially a rack device extending transversely of said car, said rack device having spacers thereon adapted to receive and support workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation, said rack device being supported relative to said car frame by -arm means swingable to dispose said rack device successively below the level of the workpieces when supported by said gathering mechanism land to move from thence upwardly so as to be adapted to pick up `a batch of workpieces to an eleva-ted position clear of said conveyor means and thence again downwardly to lower said lworkpieces t-o the level of said rollers, power means to alternatively shift said shuttle car on said wheel-track means under and out from under said gathering mechanism between pickup and loading positions, power means controllable to alternatively raise and lower said pickup rack device, and power means controllable to drive lat least some of Said rollers to feed the workpieces from said rollers into an adjacently disposed blasting machine cabinet,

3. A machine for feeding to a workpiece blasting cabinet successive batches of long-shaped workpieces in parallel spaced relation, said machine comprising essentially an inclined workpiece deli-very apron adapted to gravity-discharge therefrom successions of parallel disposed workpieces, a workpiece gathering mechanism comprising essentially a -plurality of spaced parallel running continuous conveyors running away from the delivery side of said delivery apron, said conveyors having means thereupon adapted to cradle successive workpieces in predetermined spaced parallel relation, power drive means controllable to drive said conveyor, st-ar wheel means disposed at the workpiece delivery side of said `apron and driven in synchronism with said conveyor to control feeding of workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation to said con-t veyor, a shuttle car comprising yessentially a frame supported -at intervals lengthwise thereof by wheel and track means running transversely thereof whereby said car may alternatively run under and out from under said gathering mechanism, support means mounting rows of rollers aligned in groups longitudinally and transversely of said machine and adapted to support in said parallel spaced relation groups of workpieces when disposed longitudinally thereof, load pickup means carried by said car and comprising essentially a plurality of racks extending transversely of said car at intervals therealong, said racks having spacers thereon adapted to receive and support work- .pieces in said predetermined spaced relation, said racks being supported relative to said car frame by means swingable to dispose said racks in positions Kalternatively below and above the level of said rollers so as to be adapted to move into position under a batch of workpieces supported by said gathering mechanism :and then to move upwardly so as to pick up said batch of workpieces to an elevated position clear of said conveyor chains whereupon said car .may be moved laterally into a position clear of said gathering mechanism whereupon said racks may be moved downwardly to lower said workpieces onto said rollers, power means controllable to alternatively shift said shuttle car between pickup and loading positions on said wheel-track means, power means controllable to alternatively raise and lower said pickup racks, power means controllable to drive -at least some of said rollers to feed the workpieces from said rollers into an adjacently disposed blasting machine cabinet, and a workpiece hold-down mechanism disposed at the intake portal |of said cabinet, said ho-lddown mechanism `comprising vertical support rollers and a press-down means of resilient caterpillar belt form.

4. A machine for feeding to a workpiece blasting cabinet successive batches of long lworkpieces in parallel spaced relation disposition, said machine comprising essentially an inclined workpiece loading table portion adapted-to receive workpieces disposed in parallel stacked relation adapted to gravity-discharge therefrom successions of parallel disposed workpieces, `a workpiece gathering mechanism comprising essentially a plurality of spaced parallel running continuous conveyors having their workpiece supporting Strands running away from the delivery .side of said table, said conveyor having flights thereupon @adapted to cradle successive workpieces in predetermined spaced parallel relation, power drive means controllable to drive said conveyor, star wheel means disposed at the workpiece delivery side of said Itable and driven in synchronism with said conveyor to control feeding of workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation from said table to said conveyor, a shuttle car comprising essentially a fra-me supported at intervals lengthwise thereof by wheel and track means running transversely thereof whereby said car may alternatively run under and out from under said gathering mechanism, support means mounting rollers adapted to support in said parallel spaced relation groups of workpieces when disposed longtudinally thereof, load pickup means carried by said car and comprising essentially plurality of racks extending transversely of said car at intervals therealong, said racks having spacers thereon adapted to receive and support workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation, said racks being supported relative to said car frame by means swingable to dispose said `racks in positions alternatively under and labove the level `of Said rollers so as to be adapted to move into position under a batch of workpieces supported by said gathering mechanism and then to move upwardly so as to pick up said batch of workpieces to an elevated position clear of said conveyor whereupon said car may be moved laterally into a position clear of said gathering mechanism whereupon said racks may be moved downwardly to lower said workpieces onto said rollers, power means controllable to alternatively shift said shuttle car betwen pickup and loading positions on said wheel-track means, power means controllable to `alternatively raise and lower said pickup racks, and power means controllable to drive the workpieces from said rollers into an yadjacently disposed blasting machine cabinet, and a workpiece hold-down mechanism disposed at the intake portal of said cabinet, said hold-do-wn mechanism comprising vertical support rollers and a press-down means of resilf ient caterpillar belt form.

5. A machine for feeding to a workpiece blasting cabinet successive batches of relatively .long workpieces in parallel spaced relation disposition, said machine comprising essentially a workpiece loading table portion adapted to receive workpieces disposed in parallel stacked relation and having a delivery apron adapted to discharge therefrom successions of parallel disposed workpieces, a workpiece gatheiing mechanism comprising essentially a conveyor lrunning away vfrom the delivery side of said delivery apron, said conveyor having means thereupon adapted to cradle successive workpieces in predetermined spaced parallel relation, power drive means controllable to drive said conveyor, means disposed at the workpiece delivery side of said apron and driven in synchronism with said conveyor to control feeding of workpieces in said predetermined spaced .relation Ifrom said loading table to said conveyor, a shuttle oar supported at intervals lengthwisethereof by wheel and track means running transversely thereof whereby said car may alternatively run under and out from under said gathering mechanism, a support means mounting rows of rollers aligned in groups longitudinally and transversely of said machine and adapted to support in said parallel spaced relation groups of workpieces when disposed longitudinally thereof, load pickup means carried by said car and comprising essentially rack means having spacers thereon adapted to receive and support workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation, said rack means being supported relative to said car by means swingable to dispose said rack means in positions alternatively under and above the level of said rollers so as to be adapted to move into position under a batch of workpieces supported by said gathering mechanism and then to move upwardly so as to pick up yand elevate said batch of workpieces to a position clear of said conveyor whereupon said car may be moved laterally into a position clear of said gathering mechanism whereupon said rack means may be moved downwardly to lower said workpieces onto said rollers,

power means controllable to alternatively shift said shuttle car between pickup and loading positions on said wheeltrack means, power means controllable to alternatively raise 1and Vlower said pickup rack, and power means controllable to drive the workpieces from said rollers into an -adiacently disposed blasting machine cabinet.

6. The combination, a blasting machine cabinet and a machine for feeding to said blasting cabinet successive batches of elongate shaped workpieces in parallel spaced relation disposition, said machine comprising essentially a workpiece loading table portion adapted to receive workpieces disposed in parallel stacked relation and having a delivery apron adapted to gravity-discharge therefrom successions of parallel disposed workpieces, a workpiece gathering mechanism comprising essentially a plurality of spaced parallel running continuous chain conveyors having their 4workpiece supporting strands running away from the delivery side of said delivery apron, said conveyor chains having flights thereupon adapted to cradle successive workpieces in predetermined spaced parallel relation, power drive means controllable to drive chains in unison, star wheel means disposed at the workpiece delivery side of said apron and driven in synchronism with said chains to control feeding of workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation from said-loading table to said conveyor chains, a shuttle car comprising essentially a frame elongate in the direction of said workpieces and supported at intervals lengthwise thereof by wheel and track means running transversely thereof whereby said car may alternatively run under and out from under said gathering mechanism, means mounting rows of rollers aligned in groups longitudinally and transversely of saidmachine and adapted to support in said parallel spaced relation groups of workpieces when disposed longitudinally thereon, load pickup means carried by said car and comprising essentially a plurality of racks extending transversely of said car at intervals therealong, said racks having spacers thereon adapted to receive and support workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation, said 4racks being supported relative to said car frame by arm means swingable to dispose said racks in positions alternatively under and above the level of said rollers so as to be adapted to move into position under a batch of workpieces supported by said gathering mechanism and then to move from thence upwardly so as to pick up said batch of workpieces to an elevated position clear of said conveyor chains whereupon said car may be moved laterally into a position clear of said gathering Ymechanism whereupon said racks may be moved downward to lower said workpieces onto said rollers, power means controllable to alternatively shift said shuttle oar between pickup 4and loading posi-1 tions on said wheel-track means, power means controllable to alternatively raise and lower said pickup racks, and power means controllable to drive at least some of said rollers to feed the workpieces from said rollers into an adjacently disposed blasting machine cabinet.

7. In combination, a blasting machine having a cabinet and a machine for feeding to said cabinet successive batches of workpieces in parallel spaced'relation disposition, `said machine comprising essentially a workpiece loading device adapted to receive workpieces and having a delivery apron yadapted to discharge therefrom successions of parallel disposed workpieces, a workpiece gathering mechanism comprising essentially a conveyor having workpiece supporting means running away from the delivery side of said delivery apron, said conveyor having means thereupon adapted to cradle successive workpieces in predetermined spaced parallel relation, power drive means controllable to drive said conveyor, means disposed at the workpiece delivery side of said apron and driven in synchronism with said conveyor to control feeding of workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation from said loading table to said conveyor, a shuttle car comprising essentially a frame elongate in the direction of said workpieces and supported at intervals lengthwise thereof by `wheel and track means running transversely thereof whereby said car may alternatively run under and out from under said gathering mechanism, means mounting rows of rollers aligned in groups longitudinally and transversely of said machine and adapted to support in said parallel spaced relation groups of workpieces when disposed longitudinally thereon, load pickup means carried by said car and comprising essentially a plurality of racks extending transversely of said car at intervals therealong, Said racks having spacers thereon adapted to receive and support workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation, said racks being supported relative to said car frame by means swingable to dispose said racks in positions alternatively under and above the level of said rollers so as to be adapted to move int-o position under a batch of workpieces supported by said gathering mechanism and then -to move upwardly so :as to pick up said batch of workpieces to an elevated position clear of said conveyor whereupon said car may be moved laterally into a position clear of said gathering mechanism whereupon said racks may be lmoved downwardly to lower said workpieces onto said rollers, power means controllable to alternatively shift said shuttle car between pickup and loading positions on said wheel-track means, power means controllable to alternatively raise and lower said pickup racks, and power means controllable to feed the workpieces from said rollers into an adjacently disposed blasting machine cabinet.

8. A machine `for feeding to a workpiece blasting cabinet successive lbatches of long workpieces in parallel spaced relation disposition, said machine comprising essentially an inclined workpiece loading table portion adapted to receive workpieces disposed in parallel stacked relation adapted to gravity-discharge therefrom successions of parallel disposed workpieces, a workpiece gathering mechanism comprising essentially a plurality of spaced parallel running continuous conveyors having their workpiece supporting strands running away from the delivery side of said table, said conveyor having ilights thereupon adapted to cradle successive workpieces in predetermined lspaced parallel relation, power drive means controllable to drive said conveyor, star wheel means disposed at the workpiece delivery side of said table and driven in synchronism with said conveyor -to control feeding of workpieces in said predetermined lspaced relation from said table to said conveyor, a shuttle car comprising essentially a frame supported at intervals lengthwise thereof by wheel and track means running transversely thereof whereby Said car may alternatively run under and out from under said gathering mechanism, a support mounting rollers adapted to support in lsaid parallel spaced relation groups of workpieces when disposed longitudinallythereon, load pickup means carried by'said car and comprising essentially plurality of racks extending transversely of said car at intervals therealong, said racks having spacers thereon adapted to receive and support workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation, said racks being supported relative to said car frame by means swingable to dispose said racks in positions alternatively under and above the level of said rollers so as to be adapted to move into position under a batch of workpieces supported by said gathering mechani-sm and then to move upwardly so as to pick up said batch of workpieces to an elevated position clear of said conveyor whereupon said car may be moved laterally into a position clear of said gathering mechanism whereupon said racks may be moved downwardly to lower said workpieces onto said rollers, power means controllable to alternatively shift said shuttle car between pickup and loading positions on said wheel-track means, power means controllable to alternatively raise and lower said pickup racks, and power means controllable to drive the workpieces from said rollers into an adjacently disposed blasting machine cabinet.

9. In combination, a blast cabinet and a machine for feeding to said blasting cabinett successive batches of relatively long workpieces in parallel spaced relation disposition, said machine comprising essentially a workpiece loading table portion adapted to receive workpieces disposed in parallel stacked relation and having a delivery portion adapted to discharge therefrom successions of parallel disposed workpieces, a workpiece gathering mechanism comprising a plurality of spaced parallel running continuous chain conveyors having their workpiece supporting strands running away from the delivery side of said loading ta-ble, said conveyor chains having flights thereon adapted to cradle successive workpieces in predetermined spaced parallel relation, power drive means controllable to drive said chains in unison, means disposed adjacent the workpiece intake side of said gathering mechanism and driven in synchronism therewith to control feeding of workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation from said feeding table to said conveyor chains, a shuttle car comprising a frame supported at intervals lengthwise of the workpieces by wheel and track means running transversely therof, means mounting rollers aligned in groups longitudinally and transversely of said machine and adapted to support in parallel spaced relation groups of workpieces disposed longitudinally thereof, load pickup means carried by said car and comprising essentially a plurality of racks extending transversely of said ca r at intervals therealong, said racks having spacers thereon adapted to receive and support workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation, said racks being supported relative to said car frame by means swingable to dispose said racks successively at levels below the workpieces supported by said gathering machine and thereabove `so as to pick up batches of workpieces to an elevated position clear of said conveyor chains and thence downwardly to lower said workpieces onto said rollers, power means to alternatively shift said shuttle car between pickup and loading positions on said wheel-track means, power means controllable to alternatively raise and lower said pickup racks, power means controllable to drive the workpieces from said rollers into an adjacently disposed blasting machine cabinet, and a workpiece hold-down mechanism disposed at the intake portal of said cabinet, said hold-down mechanism comprising a vertically adejustable pressure device arranged to Ibear downwardly upon said workpieces as they enter said cabinet.

l0. In combination, a blast machine cabinet and a machine for feeding to said cabinet successive batches of relatively long workpieces in parallel spaced relation disposition, said machine comprising essentially a workpiece loading device adapted to receive workpieces and adapted to discharge therefrom successions of parallel disposed workpieces, a workpiece gathering mechanism comprising essentially a plurality of spaced parallel running continuous chain conveyors having their workpiece supporting strands running away from said loading device, said conveyor chains having flights thereon adapted to cradle successive workpieces in predetermined spaced parallel relation, power drive means controllable to drive said chains in unison, star wheel means disposed at the workpiece delivery side of said loading device and driven in synchronism with said chains to control feeding of workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation from said loading device to said conveyor chains, a shuttle car comprising essentially a frame elongate in the direction of said workpieces and supported at intervals lengthwise thereof by wheel and track means running transversely thereof whereby said car may alternatively run under and out from under said gathering mechanism, rows of rollers aligned in groups longitudinally and transversely of said machine and adapted to support in said parallel spaced relation groups of workpieces when disposed longitudinally thereon, load pickup means carried by said car and comprising essentially a plurality of racks extending transversely of said car at intervals therealong, said racks having spacers thereon adapted to receive and support workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation, said racks being supported relative to said car frame by arm means swingable `to dispose said racks in positions alternatively under and above the level of said rollers so as to be adapted to move into position under a batch of workpieces supported by said gathering mechanism and-then to move upwardly so as to pick up and elevate said batch of workpieces to a position clear of said conveyor chains whereupon said car may be moved laterally into a position clear of said gathering mechanism whereupon said racks may be moved downwardly to lower said workpieces onto said rollers, power means controllable to alternatively shift said shuttle car between pickup and loading positions on said wheel-track means, power' means controllable to alternatively raise and lower said pickup racks, power means controllable to drive at least some of said rollers to feed the workpieces from said rollers into an adjacently disposed blasting machine cabinet, and a workpiece hold-down mechanism disposed at the intake portal of `said cabinet, said hold-down mechanism comprising workpiece support rollers and a resilient vertically adjustable workpiece press-down means.

11. A machine for feeding to a workpiece blasting cabinet successive batches of relatively long workpieces in parallel spaced relation disposition, said machine comprising essentially a workpiece loading device adapted to discharge therefrom successions of parallel disposed workpieces, a workpiece gathering mechanism comprising essentially a plurality of spaced parallel running continuous chain conveyors having their workpiece supporting strands running away from the delivery side of said loadingdevice, said conveyor chains having flights thereupon adaptedto cradle successive workpieces in predetermined spaced parallel relation, power drive means controllable to drive said chains in unison, star wheel means disposed at the workpiece delivery side of said loading device and driven in synchronism with said chains to control feeding of workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation from said loading device to said conveyor chains, and means adapted to pick up batches of workpieces from said conveyor chains and to feed the workpieces into an adjacently disposed blasting machine cabinet, said star wheel means each comprising a team of adjacently disposed star wheels mounted on and keyed to a common drive yshaft and relatively adjustable thereon about their rotational `axis to provide workpiece receiving pockets of different sizes and relative spacings.

l2. A machine for feeding to a workpiece blasting cabinet successive batches of relatively long workpieces in parallel spaced relation disposition, said machine cornprising essentially a workpiece loading table portion adapted to receive in feeding relation thereto successive workpieces disposed in parallel stacked relation and being adapted to discharge therefrom successions of parallel disposed workpieces, a workpiece gathering mechanism comprising essentially conveyor means running away from the delivery side of said loading table, and adapted to cradle successive workpieces thereon in predetermined spaced parallel relation, power drive means controllable to drive said conveyor, means disposed adjacent the workpiece intake side of said gathering mechanism and operable in synchronism therewith to control feeding of workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation from said feeding table to said conveyor means, a shuttle car comprising essentially an elongate frame supported at intervals lengthwise thereof by wheel and track means running transversely thereof, rollers aligned in groups longitudinally and transversely of said machine and adapted to support in parallel spaced relation groups of workpieces disposed longitudinally thereof, load pickup means carried by said car and adapted to pick up a batch of workpieces to a position clear of said conveyor means and then to lower said workpieces to lsaid rollers, power means to alternatively shift said shuttle car on said wheel-track means under and out from under said gathering mechanism between pickup and loading positions, power means 1 1 controllable to feed the workpieces-from said rollers into an adjacently disposed blasting machine cabinet, and a shuttle car frame motion equalizing device comprising means connected to the opposite ends of said car frame andoperable automatically to cause both ends of said car to be displaced equally in the same direction in response to operation of said car shifting power means.

13. A machine Afor batch feeding of elongate workpieces to a blasting cabinet, comprising gathering means for'receiving groups of Workpieces and for conveying the same in predetermined spaced parallel relation in a lateral direction, conveyor means for simultaneously moving -a group of workpieces in their longitudinal direction for batch feeding to a blasting machine cabinet, and means for transferring Workpieces, as a group, to said conveyor means.

14.- The assembly as dened in claim 13 wherein said gatheringmeans is in the form of a plurality of endless chains disposed in spaced, parallel relation.

15; A machine for batch feeding of elongate Workpieces to a blasting cabinet, comprising gathering means for receiving groups of yworkpieces and for conveying the same in predetermined spaced parallel relation in a lateral direction, conveyor means for simultaneously moving a group of workpieces in their longitudinal direction for batch feeding to a blasting machine cabinet, said conveyor means being in the form of a series of spaced, parallel and coplanar Vrollers of serrated configuration in which the valleysof the serrations are disposed in said predetermined spacedrelation, and means for transferring workpieces, as a group, to said conveyor means. '16. The assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein. said gathering means is in the form of a` plurality of endless chains disposed in spaced, parallel relation, said rollers being parallel to said chains but disposed beyond the ends thereof.

17. A machine for `feeding to 'a workpiece blasting cabinet successive batches of relatively long Workpieces in parallel spaced relation disposition, said machine comprising essentially a workpiece gathering mechanism including a plurality of spaced parailel running continuous chain conveyors having their workpiece supporting strands running away from an associated loading station, said conveyor chains having ights thereupon adapted to cradle successive workpieces in predetermined spaced parallel relation, power means controllable to drive said chains in unison, means disposed at the workpiece delivery side of said conveyor chains and driven in synchronism with said chains to control feeding of Workpieces in said predetermined spaced relation to said conveyor chains, and means adapted to pick up batches of Workpieces from said conveyor chains and to feed the workpieces into an adjacently disposed blasting machine cabinet.

18. A machine for batch feeding of elongate workpieces to a blasting cabinet, comprising means for receiving a supply of workpieces, gathering means for receiving a batch of workpieces from the first means in side-byside spaced parallelism and moving the same laterally therefrom, and means adapted to receive the workpieces of a batch substantially simultaneously from said gathering means and move them longitudinally to a blasting cabinet.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 863,841 George Aug. 20, 1907 '2,309,115 Huyett Ian. 26, 1943 2,410,492 Garrow Nov. 5, 1946 2,679,748 Kent et al June 1, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFIcE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent NO. 3,036,413 May 29, 1962 Harold I". Schulte It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 32, for "reloacted" read relocated column 3, line 57, strike out "hold"l second occurrence; column 4, line 67, for "hereof" read therof column 7, line 21, after "drive", second occurrence, insert said column 8, line 75, for "cabnett," read cabinet --3 column l2, line 10, after "power" insert drive Signed and sea led this 28th day of May 1963.,I

SEAL) lttest:

DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents ERNEST W. SWIDER ttesting Officer 

